Environmental Assessment Specification of Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for Pacific Island Coral Reef Ecosystem Fisheries in Fishing Years 2015 Through 2018

Download or read book Environmental Assessment Specification of Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for Pacific Island Coral Reef Ecosystem Fisheries in Fishing Years 2015 Through 2018 written by Nikhil Mehta and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) recommended NMFS specify multi-year annual catch limits (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) effective in fishing years 2015-2018, the environmental effects of which are analyzed in this document. NMFS proposes to implement the specifications for fishing year 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 separately prior to each fishing year. The specifications pertain to ACLs for coral reef ecosystem fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ or federal waters; generally 3-200 nautical miles or nm) around American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and Hawaii, and a post-season AM to correct the overage of an ACL if it occurs. Because of the large number of individual coral reef ecosystem management unit species (CREMUS) in each island area, individual species were aggregated into higher taxonomic groups, generally at the family level. As a result, NMFS proposes to specify ACLs for 19 CREMUS groups each in American Samoa, Guam and the CNMI, and for 17 CREMUS groups in Hawaii for a total of 74 ACL specifications. The proposed ACLs are associated with a probability of overfishing ranging between 30 to 35 percent for Guam CREMUS, 30 to 40 percent for Hawaii CREMUS, and 35 to 40 percent for American Samoa, and CNMI CREMUS. The fishing year for coral reef ecosystem fisheries in all island areas begins January 1 and ends December 31 annually. Unless modified by NMFS, the ACLs and AMs would be applicable in fishing years 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Each fishing year, catches of individual species that comprise each CREMUS group from both local state/territorial waters (generally from the shoreline to three mile offshore), and federal waters of the EEZ would be counted towards the specified ACLs.